Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Twenty-six: I just want my big brother to love me
The Big Beauty was parked in an open lot next to the local Pokémon Center in Opelucid City. Dawn, Trip, and Kenny were going over a few things in the meeting room on board of the flying ship in regards to working on filling out the Unova Pokédex. "...That's all of them," Dawn said, "We have got all Unovan Pokémon registered as caught, aside from Meloetta, the male Forces of Nature, and the Swords of Justice."
"Meaning we're going to have to see Ash and Serena for touch trades if we're to actually complete the Unovan Pokédex," Trip said, "I say we go to Kanto first and see Ash, he only has one Pokémon we need to touch trade for, actually make that two because he also owns Melmetal. Also I bet Paul will like getting to catch up with Ash."
"We just have to wait for Mina to get back with the team of Leona, Omiyo, and Salvia that she's leading," Kenny said.
"Wait wait wait," Trip began, "Mina took Salvia with her?"
"Relax, she's in her disguise and everyone remembers to use her alias of Kanna Kobiyashi," Kenny said, "No-one in Team Heart is gonna know who she is."
...
Mina was out in town with Leona, Omiyo, and Salvia, doing a bit of shopping. As the girls shopped, Omiyo found a fashion magazine that caught her attention, so she picked it up and showed it to the other girls. "Look girls," Omiyo said as she pointed out the rather obese girl on the cover, "Tabitha is in fashion magazines now!"
"Holy crud that is Tabitha!" Mina said as she recognized the fat girl on the cover of the fashion magazine as Tabitha, the big girl who the crew of The Big Beauty brought to Unova. Tabitha truly had achieved her dreams of breaking into the world of fashion, it would seem. Mina decided to buy a copy of the magazine, figuring that the others back at the ship would wanna see it.
As the girls were walking, Leona said, "Hey Mina, where do you think that Dawn will call for The Big Beauty to fly to after our time in Unova is done?"
"We'll be heading back home to Sinnoh to rest for a bit I bet," Mina began, "But after that I say that the most likely place we'll go to is-"
Mina was cut off when she heard some panicked screams, making her and the others turn to look and see some kidnappings going on while guys dressed like freedom fighter rebels were fighting off members of Team Heart. Mina and the girls panicked, but they all stopped short when people put damp cloths over their mouths from behind.
The four girls soon passed out, with Mina lasting the longest before she was utterly out of it.
When she came to, Mina looked around and saw that she and a few others were in a room at some sort of warehouse or something in an unknown location. She could also tell that her hands were tied behind her back with duct tape. Looking around, Mina saw others sitting on the floor in the same room as her. All persons sitting on the floor, same as Mina who was also sitting, were out of it but Leona looked like she was starting to wake up.
Mina was about to say something, but before she could get a word out she was cut off by a female voice calling out, "Hey, you. You're finally awake."
"What is this, Skyrim?" Mina thought before she looked up and saw Haruka, who in the Team Scorn timeline became the Admin's Assistant of the Longsword Sector. Haruka was dressed as one would expect a girl who's a member of a group of rebels who are freedom fighters to dress. Mina knew about her, had an idea what she looked like, thanks to Kenny. "Can I help you?" Mina asked as she looked up at Haruka.
"You're among the people we took during our attack on the market area in Opelucid City," Haruka said, "And you're a pretty important face. You're recognized as a member of Dawn Berlitz's group that goes from region to region."
"That I am," Mina replied, "What of it?"
"You guys were seen fighting Team Heart in regions that are the free lands," Haruka began, "But while in lands part of the Team Heart Empire, you guys play all buddy buddy with Team Heart. Are you guys enemies or allies of Team Heart?"
"Look, my boyfriend plus Dawn and Trip are just doing field research on the various species of Pokémon that live in the regions we go to," Mina said, "We're technically opposed to Team Heart, but we're not part of any big main effort against them. We'll fight as need be, nothing more."
Haruka scowled in mild unamusement. "The efforts of freedom would prefer otherwise. Among your group are some particularly noted powerful trainers, with Dawn Berlitz herself being officially ranked as the strongest trainer in the world. That power has got to be put to work to bring down the Team Heart regime, no ifs ands or buts."
"And what's with kidnapping me and the girls?" Mina asked, "Plus a bunch of other randos?"
"Recruitment efforts are not looking as hot as Aincrad would like them to be," Haruka replied, "So it was decided that we'd draft people into the effort."
"So you're gonna force people to fight against the Team Heart authority here in Unova," Mina said.
"We took the Pokémon of everyone we took earlier," Haruka said, "The people here will not get their respective Pokémon back until they take the vow that locks them into being members of Aincrad, then they will immediately report for training to deal with overthrowing Team Heart rule here in the Unova region. You won't be allowed to do anything unless you vow to become one of us."
Mina was not exactly fond of the idea of being forced to join a rebel force and forced to fight. But Haruka and her fellows had kidnapped them, taken their Pokémon, and hold all of the cards here. Also, Aincrad IS technically fighting to liberate Unova from Team Heart rule. It would be rather great at inspiring other efforts against Team Heart across the world if Unova is liberated, given that it's the seat of the Team Heart regime.
Mina couldn't really say if Aincrad was wholly in the right here. All that she and the girls with her could do was hope like hell they'll be rescued.
Back in Opelucid City, some Team Heart members stood before Dawn, Kenny, and Trip while getting a statement from them. The three reborn trainers had just learned that Mina, Leona, Omiyo, and Salvia (identified as Kanna) were kidnapped by members of Aincrad, along with a few other trainers who were in the market area at the time. Security for Opelucid City was raised to the maximum, especially in the wealthy neighborhood where Bianca lives, her security is bar none the best.
Dawn and the boys were still surprised that the girls were kidnapped by members of Aincrad. They were informed of such by the leader of the investigative team, Captain Nolan of the Unova Sector of Team Heart. He was a fair skinned fellow with curly orange hair, some freckles on his face, and he wore a baggy pink t-shirt, black baggy pants held up with a belt, black shoes with pink shoelaces, and a black Team Heart 'H' on the shirt over the left pectoral.
With Nolan was his Captain's Assistant, Gavin. He was fair skinned, had orange hair in a bowl cut, and he wore the standard Team Heart grunt outfit for male members. "How long ago were Mina and the other girls taken?" Dawn asked.
"The attack happened about an hour and a half ago," Nolan said, "Those Aincrad villains couldn't have gotten too far, especially considering they took over a dozen kidnapping victims."
It was terrible indeed that the girls were kidnapped, especially considering that one of them is a princess in disguise, and she's stuck in a land that's part of the Empire that took over her kingdom. Said hidden princess is in a LOT of danger right now. But the reborn trainers couldn't afford to let it get out who Salvia is exactly, especially here in the heart of the Team Heart Empire. They all had to keep their cool.
...Well, Dawn and Trip knew that. As for Kenny, well... "My girlfriend has been kidnapped by fucking terrorists claiming to be freedom fighters!" Kenny exclaimed, clearly out for blood, "They have just called down upon themselves a cacophony of cringe the likes of which hadn't yet been seen! Their heads shall all be mounted on the hood ornament of Dawn's flying ship!"
"Let's... not get too lost in rage, Kenny," Dawn said, "And there shall be no macabre decor put on The Big Beauty."
Even Nolan and Gavin seemed a bit distributed by how utterly pissed Kenny was that one of the girls kidnapped by Aincrad is Mina. "...Umm... well at least no-one can claim you don't care for your date," Nolan said, glad he heard from Dawn that as soon as Mina and the other girls are recovered, Dawn and her crew are leaving Unova due to their field research there being done. "Anyway," Nolan went on as he regained a bit of nerve, "You will need to-"
*beep* *beep* *beep*
Nolan stopped short when he heard a beeping sound. Pulling out a communication device, Nolan held it to the side of his head. "Talk to me," Nolan said. A few moments passed in silence before Nolan lit up with excitement. "Well alright! We'll need the coordinates for all locations, then we'll mobilize as many men as possible! I'll speak with you shortly!" Putting away the communication device, Nolan said, "That was my spy within Aincrad."
"You have a spy within Aincrad, dude?" Gavin said, looking surprised. The casual air between the two Team Heart members reminded Dawn how the Officer Staff for the Unova Sector is made up entirely of Wolfgang's friend group, with Wolfgang himself and his girlfriend Betzabe at the lead of the entire pack.
"She had produced amazing results for me," Nolan said, "And maybe with her help I can see a little bit of a bonus." To the reborn trainers, Nolan said, "Good news, the location of where the persons kidnapped from the market area earlier has been found. Wanna help rescue your fellows?"
"I shall burst through their walls upon Black's back!" Kenny bellowed, "The full might of my legendary dragon shall be brought down upon the heads of the fools who think that kidnapping my girlfriend is a good idea!" Even Dawn and Trip were a bit alarmed by how vengeful Kenny was being at the moment. They decided that they had to get the girls back as soon as possible, and for more than one reason.
Meanwhile at the Aincrad base, Haruka was supervising as some of the 'new recruits' were forced to do training exercises. Which here is just battling each other. For instance, Mina was being made to battle Leona and Omiyo was being made to battle Salvia. Battles here were last trainer with any Pokémon still able to fight wins.
As such, Salvia quickly lost to Omiyo as not only does Salvia have only Togekiss while Omiyo has Bellibolt and Granbull, but Bellibolt has a type advantage over Togekiss. Mina also had Leona beat, but had to put in a lot more effort as Leona's team was a trio of Mamoswines. "What do you mean you have only one Pokémon?!" Haruka exclaimed at Salvia.
Salvia and Omiyo both flinched from Haruka's yelling, Omiyo due to the volume and Salvia due to not exactly being used to getting yelled at. "With all due respect, I wasn't exactly planning on joining a group of freedom fighters," Salvia said.
"Yeah well get used to it," Haruka said, then added while clapping her hands, "Come on, people! This is for the effort to liberate Unova from Team Heart rule!"
"This training you're forcing us to do is brutal!" Leona complained.
"Team Heart is even more brutal," Haruka retorted dryly, "Get used to it."
"No, seriously," Leona said, "All of this training you're making us do is a long and hard pain right in the fanny!"
Suddenly, a Machamp was heard from outside, calling out in a moaning cry of aroused, sensual pleasure. Exactly one second later, the one wall of the warehouse was busted through as Kenny rode on in on the back of Black, his named Giratina. Zarbon, Kenny's named Machamp, also rode on the back of Black. Following in after Kenny and his Pokémon were members of Team Heart, as well as the rest of the main fighters from the crew of The Big Beauty.
"We've been found out!" one random loyal member of Aincrad called out.
"That's right, you terrorist dogs!" called out Nolan as he led a charge of Team Heart men with Gavin at his side, "And it's not just this location we found! We got the deets on ALL locations you have on the Aincrad payroll! Your time is up!"
The members of Aincrad were forced to fight back, and experienced some resistance from within as the new members they had kidnapped earlier decided to retaliate against their kidnappers. During the fighting, Kenny found Yoshitsugu, who he remembered was Admin Swordsman back in the Team Scorn timeline. Wanting some revenge on how Yoshitsugu continued the curse that Godzilla was put under, Kenny battled Yoshitsugu immediately.
The rebel fighter member was easy for Kenny to take down in battle, not one of Kenny's Pokémon fainted. Although Kenny noted he forgot to have Godzilla battle Yoshitsugu's Sceptile to try to break the curse, or see if the curse exists in the Team Heart timeline. Regardless, the forces that were all brought to bare against Aincrad soon had them all defeated.
As the members of Aincrad were being rounded up, Yoshitsugu and Haruka used a moment when some Team Heart members were distracted by a wounded girl to make a break for it, successfully escaping and avoiding capture. They would get to live freely and fight for Unova's freedom another day, but it was pretty much just them, plus one other girl with long dark hair but no-one saw who she was as she fled with Yoshitsugu and Haruka.
With how many terrorists there were to wrangle up, a few were bound to slip through. But Nolan did NOT want to be the one to inform Wolfgang that one of the Aincrad members who were able to get away is Yoshitsugu, the guy who wounded Lady Bianca's father. This was NOT going to look good no matter how it was spun.
...
As the site was settled by Team Heart authority, Dawn and her fellows collected Mina, Leona, Omiyo, and Salvia. Heath, who is Omiyo's uncle, threw his arms around her and pulled her into a very tight hug, before Omiyo freaked because of sensory overload and Heath, realizing his mistake, let go of his autistic niece. Dawn was glad to see that uncle and niece were reunited.
Dawn also saw Freesia hug Salvia in relief. Given who Salvia really is, one can't blame Freesia for being so alarmed to hear that Salvia was kidnapped. It made Freesia all the more glad that The Big Beauty was going to be leaving Unova, despite how no danger from the Team Heart regime had been what came to Salvia.
As Dawn and her fellows were leaving, they stopped short upon seeing Wolfgang and Betzabe arrive on scene with more Team Heart men. They spoke with Nolan and Gavin as two men carrying a stretcher stood nearby. Laying on the stretcher was a wounded young girl, a shade under a decade old. She was a fair skinned girl, with collarbone length scruffy brown hair, round glasses with black frames, and she wore a baggy green sweater that exposed her shoulders although she wore a white lab coat over it, a pair of brown baggy pants held up with a belt, white socks, and black shoes.
The girl had blood trickling down her face from a cut on the left cheek. Her head was turned to look at Wolfgang, and it was turned in a way that made the bleeding more obvious. She also had some sort of covering on her right shin, so it's possible that she can't walk on her own right now, hence why she was on a stretcher being carried carried by a pair of men. Nolan gestured to the girl on the stretcher as he spoke with Wolfgang.
"Yeah, man," Nolan said to Wolfgang, "Your little sister Lara here is the reason why we were able to sus out all of the Aincrad bases and shut down the whole group of terrorists in its entirety. She had infiltrated the group, learned of the locations of all of their bases, and planted tracking signals at them for Team Heart to lock onto. Heh, and those Aincrad dogs never suspected her in the least."
Wolfgang turned to look at the now identified Lara, giving her an wry look of piqued interest. "You had taken a very big risk," Wolfgang remarked. From where Dawn and her fellows stood, Dawn was able to tell that Wolfgang was not as annoyed with one of his sisters being referred to as a sister of his within his earshot, something that they had seen before. No doubt due to how Lara had played a very big role in bringing down Aincrad.
"They were, despite the claims to the contrary that they made, a threat to the overall safety and well being of the Unovan people at large and Unova itself," Lara said. She clearly was trying to play it off all cool and business like, but the pain she was in was working to crack her stoic facade. Also, Dawn was able to sense that something else was bubbling under the surface to make Lara have a hard time trying to be all cool.
"Well there's no doubting that," Betzabe remarked to the hurt and tired young girl, "I have no doubt that you'll receive official commendations for your efforts from the authority of the Team Heart regime. Hell, you might even be praised by Lady Bianca herself personally. Although I do have to confess a curiosity as to why a girl your age would willingly take on such a risk in service to the Team Heart Empire."
Lara looked as if her stoic facade was cracking more and more. She choked a bit as, with tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, she began to explain, "I had figured that Wolfgang would like it if Aincrad was taken down, I knew that they were a constant and moderate threat to the efforts that he and his fellows were running. Now that Aincrad is going to be wholly stopped for good, I have reason to believe that things will be much easier for Wolfgang."
Looking like she was about to start crying in full, Lara said, "I just want my big brother to love me."
Wolfgang was a bit surprised by Lara's motivation for wanting to bring down Aincrad. It was basically a case of a sweet young girl wanting to get a gift for her big brother who she fully adored. There was also no way Lara might be trying to sabotage Team Heart from within either; if she was tying to do that, why would she willingly, and clearly without a second thought, sacrifice potential allies that could help overthrow Team Heart rule in Unova?
Shifting a bit, Wolfgang said, "Well at the very least, I do owe you a visit while you're being treated at the hospital. Your favorite snack is still fig bars, right?"
A hint of sincere surprise appeared in Lara's tired, hurt eyes. "You... you actually remembered that I love fig bars," Lara said, "But I thought that you didn't like me or any of our sisters-"
"I don't have sisters as in multiple," Wolfgang said, cutting Lara off and drawing a worried look out of her. Wolfgang reached forward, gently ruffled Lara's hair a little bit. "...But I do have one little sister. For now at least. Anyway, you ought to get some rest when you're taken in for treatment. I suspect that Betzabe's remark about Lady Bianca wanting to personally commend you for your services to the Team Heart Empire will be accurate."
Lara, overcome by emotion and pain nodded once as tears rolled down the sides of her face. Lara was then taken away by the men carrying the stretcher she was on, but not before Wolfgang told them to let him know where he can find Lara later. Lara was going to be taken to the same hospital as all other hurt humans that were recovered by Team Heart and the crew of The Big Beauty.
Speaking of, after Lara was taken away, Wolfgang walked over to Dawn and her fellows, with Betzabe, Nolan, and Gavin following along behind. "Even though it was only due to wanting to save some of your crew mates who were among those taken, you still helped to bring down a section of Aincrad," Wolfgang said, "Thanks for the assist."
"My crew and I look out for our own," Dawn replied evenly, "Anyway, I'm not sure if you had been informed of it, but my crew's time in Unova is up. We've finished the field research we were doing here and will be leaving as soon as we can. We would have left sooner were it not for Aincrad taking some of my ship's crew members to try and forcefully draft them into service for their cause."
Wolfgang perked up a bit. "Oh, you guys are leaving Unova," Wolfgang said. Dawn could tell full well that it was good news as far as Wolfgang was concerned; Dawn had no doubt that Bianca will love to hear the news, and hate Aincrad even more because their actions did technically delay Dawn and her fellows from leaving Unova. Waving a hand, Wolfgang said, "Well the men of Team Heart who are here can handle everything here from this point moving forward. We kind of need to secure the scene anyway, so I'm going to have to ask that you and your fellows leave."
"Fair enough," Dawn replied as she and the rest of her crew mates who were with her took off from the scene. They all wanted to get out of Unova as soon as possible, because honestly there isn't anything left of value for the reborn trainers to stick around for.
"Yo, you think Dawn may catch some heat for helping Team Heart out with taking out persons who were fighting to overthrow some Team Heart authority?" Barry asked as everyone was making their way back to The Big Beauty.
"We'll explain that the persons who we stopped had literally kidnapped several members of my flying ship's crew and I had acted strictly to rescue them," Dawn said, "I'll also point out the fact that all of the members of my crew who were kidnapped were being forcefully made to join the group that the kidnappers were running."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that people will go easy on you when it's revealed that the 'freedom fighters' had literally taken some of the girls and forcefully drafted them in their efforts," Trip said, "If those guys are so good, then why would they resort to such tactics?"
As the persons got on board of The Big Beauty, they were met up by a panicked looking Mitch, his shiny Dedenne Den sitting perched on his shoulder as always. "Captain Dawn, there is big trouble that has Mitch worried," Mitch began, "Even the mighty Den isn't enough to do away with the trouble that had come about."
Dawn arched a wry eyebrow. "...What's the trouble?"
...
To the alarmed shock of Dawn and the others, Yoshitsugu, Haruka, and surprisingly enough Carmine were all on board of The Big Beauty, with Haruka and Carmine holding Lance the Cook and Freesia hostage respectively. Carmine had a pocket knife at Freesia's throat while Haruka had a unique custom rapier with a wide enough blade to make it perfect for both thrusting and slashing at Lance's throat.
Yoshitsugu, it should be pointed out, looked like he was hoping to have done things peacefully but those hopes were scuttled by the girls. "Ladies, there was no need to take hostages like this," said Yoshitsugu, "We could have bartered with Dawn Berlitz and her companionship peacefully."
"No you guys couldn't," Kenny said, "Hell, I would have relished in kicking Carmine's ass and turning her over to Kieran's mercy, letting him do with her as he saw fit. After what all shit she had put him through, the bitch-muffin has it coming."
"AY!" Carmine exclaimed angrily.
"Umm, Kenny," Salvia began, "Given that she's holding Tohru hostage with a knife at her throat, do you really think angering her is a good idea?"
Getting things back on track, Haruka said, "The girl with white hair as a point. Anyway, you Dawn will be doing Yoshitsugu, myself, and Carmine a couple of favors."
Seeing that the lives of some of her crew mates were in danger, Dawn coolly said, "...Alright. What do you and the others need?"
"First off, don't tell anyone period about us," Haruka began, "Your crew members who were on board when Yoshitsugu, myself, and Carmine snuck on board already got that idea. Second, you and your crew will be taking us out of Unova. If we stay here, Team Heart will track us down and kill us. You will be taking us to one of the free lands."
Dawn, keeping even, remarked, "I was planning on calling for my helmsman to take us to the Kanto region, we need to stop off there to see a friend for a few favors."
"What friend and what favors?" Carmine demanded.
"We were planning to see our friend Kanto Champion Ash," Trip began, "We need his help with our notes on the field research we're doing in the regions we visit. We were also going to ask him to help us convince Kalos Champion Serena to help us with much the same stuff when we all get to the Kalos region later."
"Umm, Dawn, Trip," Leona began, "Remember the jerkwad-ish regional security men who operate in Kanto? They're bound to demand us to let them search The Big Beauty upon seeing us entering Kanto airspace. Won't they question what a trio of probable terrorists are doing on board? Especially considering how two of them have swords and the third has a pocket knife."
Leona had a point; Yoshitsugu had his signature long sword, and Haruka has her custom rapier. There was also Carmine with her pocket knife. "...Change of plans," Dawn said, "We're going to have to stop off in my home region of Sinnoh first and drop the three of you off there. Sinnoh is also a free land, and the security there is nowhere near as asshole-ish as what is over in Kanto. Will that be an acceptable deal?"
"It's perfectly fine," Yoshitsugu replied, clearly wanting to de-escalate the situation. Dawn was able to tell again that the black swordsman was wanting to do things peacefully, it was the girls who had gone too far. And so, with tensions high because there was a hostage situation on board, The Big Beauty took off from Unova, with Sinnoh as its destination.
A few days later in Unova, there was another weekly Friday tournament held in Driftveil City. In the VIP viewing room was Bianca, lounging back in her large plush leather armchair as she watched the tournament going on below. In the VIP viewing room with her was Champion Nate, his girlfriend Rosa, Admin Wolfgang, Admin's Assistant Betzabe, and surprisingly enough Wolfgang's little sister Lara. She had a cast on her right shin and she had a pair of crutches.
They were all seated and watching the battling below. "...Well I'll be damned," Wolfgang remarked, "It looks like Annaka is actually going to win a weekly Friday tournament for once."
Arching a wry eyebrow, Bianca with a wry look of amusement said, "What do you think she'll ask for as the favor I'll grant?"
"She's bound to wanna ask that Ella be released from whatever labor camp she was sent to," Wolfgang replied.
"Actually, she's going to ask for the release of both Ella and our father," Lara spoke up.
Wolfgang arched a wry eyebrow at that. "...The old man got sent to a labor camp as well?" Giving an indifferent shrug, Wolfgang went on, "Well if that's what the sore loser wants, then-"
"I have a proposition," Lara cut in, catching Wolfgang's attention. "You know how our family as a collective had frequently forced sadistic choices upon you?" Lara began as she spoke to Wolfgang, "Why don't the same deal be forced upon Annaka? When she asks to free both Ella and dad, tell her she can only save one of them and make her pick which one."
Bianca looked sincerely amused by the idea. "Giving them a taste of their own medicine, I like that," Bianca remarked, "What do you think, Wolfgang? I'll leave the decision up to you ultimately."
Nodding in agreement, Wolfgang said, "Yeah, it's about time Annaka and the others got treated the way they had treated me."
"And as an added bonus," Nate spoke up, "Lady Bianca should claim full credit for the idea, that way your family can't blame you." Nate was speaking from a place of not exactly being fond of his own older sister, Hilda.
Wolfgang smirked in amusement. "...I'm beginning to like how things are going."
Over in the Kanto region, the reborn trainers were seeing Ash over at Oak's Lab in Pallet Town. While there, they did touch trades to get Meloetta and Melmetal registered as caught. "Sorry again about the Kanto region security men giving you trouble because you were fighting along side members of Team Heart but only because you had to rescue some kidnapped members of your crew," Ash said in an apologetic tone.
"What I'd like to know is why no-one had done anything period to get those pricks to not be pricks," Mina asked, "I mean seriously! What will it take to make the Kanto region security men stop being such utter assholes towards literally everyone else?!"
"Could you please watch your language?" Oak asked, "I know that the behavior of the Kanto region security men has you upset, but it's no reason so swear like a sailor."
"The Kanto region security men have no reason to be such utter... jerks," Mina said, catching herself at the last moment as per the request of Oak.
"The government over in Sinnoh," Ash began, "No offence you guys, had no reason to arrest Paul's older brother Reggie. How was Reggie supposed to know those two guys he helped were members of Team Heart? They didn't wear anything that would have identified them as such, they never said anything that would have given them away. Although I will admit it was great seeing Paul again. I'm glad to see he's sticking to being good."
"He's still working on his redemption arc," Kenny said, "And is now working on a 'rescuing big bro' arc on top of that." Ash nodded in acknowledgement.
"So Dawn, Mina, boys," Oak began as he addressed the reborn trainers, "Where are you four planning to head off to next for your goal of completing the Pokédex?"
"We're planning on heading to Kalos," Dawn said, "And that reminds me. Ash." With Ash's attention on her, Dawn said, "The guys here and I may need your help in convincing Serena to help us with our goal, although we can't exactly share that we're trying to complete the Pokédex. We got it that she's caught several legendary Pokémon."
Nodding once in understanding, Ash said with a mildly unsure look on his face, "Yeah. A lot of folks over in Alola are VERY unamused with Serena. If you don't know, you'll see what I mean when you see Serena over in Kalos. In fact." After a few moments of getting things ready, Ash used a video phone to make a call.
The screen on the video phone lit up, and the reborn trainers saw that Ash was calling Serena. "Oh! Ash!" Serena greeted, "What do you need?"
"I'm actually being visited by Dawn, Kenny, Trip, Mina, and their crew right now," Ash began, "They're going from region to region to do field research on the various species of Pokémon that live in each region." The reborn trainers were thankful that Ash remembered to lie about what they were truly up to. "They finished work in Unova recently, actually," Ash began.
"Yeah, I heard about that on the news," Serena said, "Dawn was forced to partner up with Team Heart because a rebel group in Unova kidnapped some of her allies and Team Heart led the charge against said rebels. Anyway, what are they doing over in Kanto?"
"They were touching base with me," Ash said, "I had to help them with some of their work. Also, they're going to be heading to Kalos soon, and they're going to be needing your help as well. They'll explain in detail when they see you. Would you be willing to help them, Serena?"
Nodding once, Serena replied, "Well I don't see why not." Dawn could tell that Serena was only saying yes because Ash had been the one to ask her; if it was anyone else, Serena most likely would have declined. "Wait, when are they coming to Kalos?" Serena asked.
Turning to look at the reborn trainers, Ash asked, "When are you guys leaving Kanto for Kalos?"
"As soon as we're done here, so at most we're gonna be leaving before the day is out," Dawn replied.
Turning back to look at Serena, Ash replied, "They're leaving Kanto before the day is out today. They'll see you in at most a few days."
Nodding once, Serena said, "Alright, I'll see them in Lumiose City, at Professor Yvonne's Lab. It's located on the opposite side of Lumiose City from Professor Sycamore's Lab." Serena soon ended the call after that.
Turning to face the reborn trainers, Ash said, "Well, I'm not sure if you heard Serena clearly, but she'll see you at Professor Yvonne's Lab in Lumiose City."
"Yeah, I heard what Serena said," Dawn remarked, "But I am unfamiliar with this Professor Yvonne person. Who exactly is she?"
Shrugging, Ash replied, "No clue. But good luck to you in Kalos." Dawn nodded in thanks to Ash before she and the other reborn trainers took off. They had another region to go to, another regional Pokédex to complete. Two technically as they need to see Serena in order to fill out the Unova Pokédex because she got the Swords of Justice and the male Forces of Nature, but they also need to fill out the Kalos Pokédex.
...
As The Big Beauty was flying from Kanto to Kalos (they were in Sinnoh before Kanto to drop off their 'guests' as well as explain in a press conference why they actively worked alongside members of Team Heart, luckily they passed that), Dawn was walking about the flying ship when she came to the kitchen area. Lance the Cook was sitting at an island table with a concerned looking Mitch.
Dawn sensed that Mitch, a former Kalos citizen, was troubled because he's returning to the region he used to live in. "...A coin for your thoughts, Mitch?" Dawn asked as she sat down at the island table with Lance and Mitch, her expression and tone conveying that she was concerned about how Mitch was clearly troubled.
"Oh, Captain Dawn," Mitch said while Den who sat on the table surface ate some food, "Mitch is not troubled at all. There is no need to worry for Mitch."
Dawn could see right through Mitch, his attempt to decisive Dawn rolled a Nat One while Dawn's perception rolled a Nat Twenty. "You're troubled, Mitch," Dawn said bluntly, "Tell me what has you troubled. I care about my crew." Enough to willingly team up with Team Heart, even if it was for just a little bit, to rescue kidnapped crew members from their kidnappers.
Mitch let out a troubled sigh. "...Kalos is a place of ultimate shame for Mitch," Mitch began as he started to open up, "Mitch was once among the greatest heroes Kalos had. Mitch even stood shoulder to shoulder with Kaito Fu." Dawn remembered that name as the name of Admin Hero of the Shield Sector of Team Scorn back in the Team Scorn timeline. Dawn wondered how Kaito is doing here in the Team Heart timeline.
"How did things go shameful for you?" Dawn asked.
"Mitch while on duty found himself in lose-lose situation," Mitch said, "Mitch was forced to choose from one of two options, no chance or ability to make either one more favorable, no way to take better third option."
"What were the choices?" Dawn asked.
"Mitch was in situation where he had to choose between saving twelve people and letting one person die," Mitch replied, "Or save the one person but let the twelve people die. Mitch couldn't save all of the people, so Mitch with little time chose the save twelve and let one die option. Twelve people are alive today thanks to Mitch, but as a result one person died."
Sighing, Lance said, "That is a sucky situation, man. At least one life would be lost no matter what choice you made. But you at least made the choice that saved as much as possible."
Dawn nodded in agreement. "Lance is right, Mitch. Sure it was a tough decision, but you made the choice that resulted in more lives saved."
"Mitch knows that to be true," Mitch replied, "But even so, Mitch was effectively shamed into moving out of Kalos by Kalosian nobility."
Dawn was instantly suspicious. "What does the Kalosian nobility have to do with it?"
"The one person who Mitch let die in order to save the twelve people was a Kalosian noble," Mitch said, "While the twelve people that Mitch saved were regular people. Kalosian nobles were none too happy one of their own was lost to save who they view as mere pocket change."
Dawn was getting vibes that the Kalosian nobles, at least most of them, were more or less exactly like the Paldean wealthy elite in the Team Scorn timeline. "Sounds to me like the Kalosian nobility are a bunch of, as Kenny would put it, Celestial Dragons," Dawn said wryly, her tone and expression making it clear she already wasn't fond of the Kalosian nobility as a collective.
"Well even the Kalosian nobility better watch themselves around us," Lance remarked to Mitch in a bid to reassure him, "We're representing a foreign region, and the one who's overall best at fighting off Team Heart. They wouldn't dare try to sour Kalos-Sinnoh relations." Dawn sincerely hoped that it would be like that, because she was feeling that Kalos was going to be the most interesting region that the crew of The Big Beauty has been to up to this point.
END, CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Dawn and a few others have to work as allies with Team Heart because Mina and a few of the girls get kidnapped by members of Aincrad. Luckily Dawn and company are able to save their crew members, and one of Wolfgang's little sisters is even accepted by Wolfgang again. But Yoshitsugu, Haruka, and Carmine are able to force Dawn and company to take them out of Unova safely, letting them continue to fight the good fight but they'll have to do it elsewhere.
Dawn and the others stop off in Kanto to do touch trades with Ash, as well as set up getting to do touch trades with Serena when they get to Kalos. Dawn also has a talk with Mitch who reveals that he used to live in Kalos before he was effectively shamed into leaving by the Kalosian nobility due to how Mitch thinks a dozen commoner lives hold more value than a single noble life. Dawn already has a sour disposition towards the Kalosian nobility, but she'll have to play it cool in Kalos.
Speaking of, this is the last chapter of the Unova arc, as the next chapter will be the beginning of the Kalos arc. There are also various things about the arcs in this story that come after this chapter to look forward to! Such as;
1. The Kalos arc will make a royal metric fuck tonne of references to Baldur's Gate 3
2. The Alola arc will see a female to male transgender character play a significant role
3. The Galar arc will see the return of my OC Nina, who first appeared back in 'Bea and the autistic gym challenger'
4. The Paldea arc will see Mask Sector of Team Scorn members be reused as Team Heart members
There's also loads more to look forward to than just that! But for now, here's hoping that the Kalos arc will go smoothly. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Tsukune (Palkia), Leni (female Lucario), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Lincoln (male Latios), Entreri (male Sneasler; alpha)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Black (Giratina), Shallot (male Glaceon), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Roshi (male Torterra), Zarbon (male Machamp), Kermit (male Politoed)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Deelia (Dialga), Lisa (female Latias), Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Veda (female Abomasnow), Myde (male Empoleon), Villetta (Miraidon)
Mina's Pokémon: (on hand) Scar (male Eevee; scared over one eye), Gardevoir (male), Lucario (female), Umbreon (male; shiny), Espeon (male; shiny), Jolteon (male; shiny)